Ethiopian parliament has declared three days of national mourning following a deadly landslide in the South Region of Gofa that has killed over 200 people and left hundreds more missing.
The landslide occurred on Sunday and Monday in the villages of Kencho and Shacha locality of Gezidi Gofa district in the Gofa Zone.
Heavy rains triggered two landslides that buried the two villages. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the death toll has risen to 257 and could reach 500.
Flags will be lowered to half-mast across Ethiopia, along with at Ethiopian embassies, consulates and on flag-carrying vessels until July 29 in mourning for the victims.
It is the deadliest landslide in Ethiopia's history. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expressed condolences for the victims and deployed resources to assist rescue efforts.
The death toll is expected to rise further as rescue operations continue, with local authorities and the Ethiopian Red Cross providing emergency support but hampered by damaged roads and infrastructure from the rains.
Ethiopia has seen several deadly landslides in recent years caused by heavy seasonal rains and unstable soil conditions exacerbated by deforestation and population growth on fragile land.